Russia’s State Duma parliament on 25 November ratified a five-year extension of the €10 billion ($11.3m) Hungarian state loan for the construction of the Paks II two-unit nuclear power plant. The Duma ratified the protocol amending the 2014 agreement between the governments of the Russian Federation and Hungary on the provision the loan (the protocol was signed in Moscow and Budapest in May).
- Source: NEI Magazine
- Date: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
- Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsrussia-amends-loan-agreement-for-paks-ii-9284839
A new way of awarding long-term work packages at the Sellafield site in the UK has reached a major milestone, with Programme and Project Partners (PPP) appointing its first key delivery partners.
- Source: NEI Magazine
- Date: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
- Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsppp-announce-winners-of-new-hvac-contract-at-sellafield-9284860
The Pre-Salto (safety aspects of long-term operation) follow up review mission focused on aspects essential to the safe long-term operation (LTO) of Unit 1, a 340-MW pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) that began commercial operation in 1974. The plant’s current operating licence expires in 2024.
The 693-MW Unit 2, also a PHWR, began commercial operation in May 2016 and was not part of the review.
Atucha, 100 km northwest of Buenos Aires, is operated by Nucleoelectrica Argentina.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/iaea-completes-review-as-operator-prepares-for-atucha-1-lifetime-extension-11-1-2021
A milestone was reached in the decommissioning of the Czech Republic's Bohunice V1 reactor when Javys completed cutting up its pressure vessel. Most of the component has been disposed of as low-level radioactive waste.
- Source: World Nuclear News
- Date: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
- Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Pressure-vessel-segmented-at-Bohunice
Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has rejected Berkeley Energia's authorisation to build a uranium processing plant at the company's Salamanca project in western Spain. The company has questioned the legality of the decision.
- Source: World Nuclear News
- Date: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
- Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Spanish-uranium-project-denied-authorisation
Napandee near Kimba in South Australia has been formally selected as the location of a national low and medium-level radioactive waste facility. Under the relevant legislation, the declaration today by Australia's Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt has the effect of the Commonwealth acquiring about 211 hectares of land for the purpose of hosting the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility (NRWMF).
- Source: World Nuclear News
- Date: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
- Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/South-Australian-site-to-host-national-radwaste-fa
Hunterston B Reactor 3 - a 490 MWe advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) - was taken offline for the final time at midday on 26 November, marking the end of 46 years of operation. Its twin - Hunterston B Reactor 4 - is scheduled to shut down in January, which will see the end of power generation for the site in North Ayrshire, Scotland.
- Source: World Nuclear News
- Date: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
- Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/First-Hunterston-B-reactor-enters-retirement
Excavation work resumed at the site of the Russia-supplied unit earlier this year after a break of several years following revisions to the site boundaries.
The excavation, which will be used as a foundation pit for many of the plant buildings, is now 400 meters long and 300 meters wide, excavated almost in its entirety to a depth of two meters below sea level.
Russia’s Titan-2, the main contractor of the Hanhikivi-1 construction site, is responsible for the earthworks in the main pit. The subcontractor is Metrostav, a Czech company which worked on construction of the Helsinki metro.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Saturday, 27 November 2021
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/finland-hanhikivi-1-excavation-work-continues-following-revision-to-site-boundaries
On 14 November, Bulgarians voted in a general election which produced a fragmented parliament consisting of seven political parties spanning the full range of the political spectrum.
The election was won by the newcomer liberal centrist ‘Continuing the Change’ (PP in Bulgarian) party with 26% of the vote – not enough to form a majority. The party began negotiations to form a government with three other parties, including socialists, centrists, and liberal conservatives.
The PP said it is “definitely pro nuclear power” and “Bulgaria will never be left without nuclear power”, which is a matter of national security and not just an economic consideration.
Preliminary discussions on energy issues earlier this week were marked by the aim to reform Bulgarian energy policies in view of the European Union’s decarbonisation drive and define the role of nuclear power among other sources.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Saturday, 27 November 2021
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/country-will-never-be-left-without-nuclear-says-main-party-in-coalition-talks-11-5-2021
The UK's National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) and Norwegian assurance and risk management provider DNV are partnering to explore the potential use of advanced nuclear technologies for the conversion of UK gas networks to hydrogen. The collaboration will enable both the nuclear and gas sectors to gain a deeper understanding of priorities and assess barriers and next steps on aspects including regulation, safety, siting and economics.
- Source: World Nuclear News
- Date: Saturday, 27 November 2021
- Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/NNL-and-DNV-team-up-for-nuclear-derived-hydrogen-s
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